I’ve been blogging and Instagramming for around two years now and it’s something I really enjoy. Within that time, I’ve been shocked by the growth of the industry. Every week new people seem to appear. Of course, some don’t last the course of time, but many do stick around. This is because there is a market for bloggers, Instagrammers and general content creators. But why is this? Is there still space for new people? And what does the future look like?
What Does The Term ‘Influencer’ Actually Mean?
The word “influencer” has many different meanings, but in most cases it is someone with a strong following who has the power to persuade people to buy things. These people may be celebrities, athletes, bloggers, politicians, or any other person who has control of public opinion. Ordinary people, with knowledge, or an interest in a certain area, can also become influencers (if they can attract a following).
What Is A Lifestyle Influencer?
A lifestyle influencer is someone with a strong following who is an expert in a lifestyle topic. By ‘lifestyle’ we mean something which that person encounters on a daily basis. It could be fashion, beauty, food, fitness, or any other subject you encounter.
Lifestyle bloggers are usually very passionate about the subject they are discussing and show this by posting content that is relevant to their followers. They can usually be found on all social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Some lifestyle influencers with a social media following also blog; this allows them to explore topics in more depth.
It is also possible to be a lifestyle influencer and to only have a blog (with no social accounts). However, growing a following this way can take a lot longer, because you’re limited to how you can promote your work. Those that just blog, without the social media presence, tend to rely on search engine traffic in order to influence and this takes time to grow.
How do Lifestyle Influencers Make Money?
Lifestyle influencers make money by partnering with everyday brands and companies to promote their products and services. This can include everything from sponsoring content, to receiving free products to promote on social media. Often, influencers will write sponsored content like reviews, or even receive a percentage of revenue from their followers’ purchases.
If you would like to find out more about how it can work, then make sure you do your research. You can listen to other influencer’s stories and don’t be scared to ask questions to other lifestyle influencers.
The Pros And Cons of Being a Lifestyle Blogger
Lifestyle blogging is a type of blogging which involves creating content related to your personal interests. There are lots of reasons why you might want to consider becoming a lifestyle blogger. For example, it can be a great source of extra income, you can gain an online following and it can help you build your personal brand.
Other positives include the fact that the hours are flexible; you can literally work any time (as long as you meet the deadlines you’ve agreed with clients) and you can get paid for your work. It will also provide you with a creative outlet and you’ll develop new skills and knowledge. You might make some new friends through it too!
But lifestyle blogging is not for everyone. It takes time, effort, creativity and sometimes even courage to be successful in this industry.
My Advice
I have been within the ‘lifestyle influencer’ arena for two years now. This is only a short time compared to many, but I have already seen that there are opportunities.
However, the landscape is changing all of the time and it seems that there is a real push towards brand advocacy at the moment. This is where people talk about the good experiences they’ve had through different companies and products. It isn’t about a hard sell; it’s just about saying what has worked for your personally. Your followers then decide if those item or products are for them or not.
If you fancy becoming a lifestyle influencer, then I suggest you think about what topics you’d enjoy talking about. For example, there is no point in setting up a blog about beauty if that isn’t an interest of yours. You should also want to tell people about your experiences.
If you have an interest in something, or knowledge, then you’re able to become a lifestyle influencer. People want to hear how people (just like them) have found certain products and services and there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be that person.
The industry is certainly big enough for some extra faces. So what are you waiting for? Give it a try and see where it leads.
Note: this is a paid collaboration.